1. Update for the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council
Office for Interoperability and Compatibility
Karen Ray Branch Chief, Office for Interoperability and Compatibility Command, Control and Interoperability Division Science and Technology Directorate September 16, 2010
OIC developed an executive summary of the technology roadmap for inclusion in the upcoming version of the NECP.  

2. Multi-Band Radio 3 multi-band radio pilots completed: Blaine, WA,
Vancouver Transit Police
Murray State University
Findings and DRAFT report for each completed pilot is under review
The National Capitol Region Pilot continues with several pilot scenarios being completed
Next anticipated pilot will include agencies along the southwest border region.
No cross-border US/Mexico pilots
Investigating feasibility of joint pilot effort wit OEC in the Nogales, AZ region
Factory Mutual is proposing a new standard for certification of intrinsically safe (IS) radios that would take effect in January 2012
Intended to harmonize existing IS standards across the U.S. and Europe.
New standards may require redesign of intrinsically safe radios from the ground-up, resulting in larger portable units and limiting power to 0.5 watts
Additional MBR features (e.g., OTAR) remain under development and the MBR pilots requiring those features will be conducted once they become available.
- Multi-Band Radio (MBR) pilot projects, that will last for approximately 30 days, started in Kentucky and in the Pacific Northwest. 
- The lead agencies for the Kentucky pilot, the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management and Murray State University, currently have two MBRs. 
- Mark Garland, Regional Response Manager for the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management has utilized the MBR at several incidents which include a small aircraft crash, hazmat incident, and a missing person search.
- The most successful use of the MBR was on the missing person search.
- Several agencies from across the region provided mutual aid, including six agencies using VHF conventional, UHF conventional, UHF P25, 800 analog, and VHF P25 (Motorola Votescan system).
- Mark reported that a single MBR provided a useful, efficient method of communication; however there were some scan issues that need to be addressed.
- The 2010 Olympics Affiliates pilot will be conducted on both sides of the border before, during, and after the 2010 Olympics.  
- On the U.S.-side, the lead agency is the Blaine Police Department and on the Canadian-side the lead agency is the Vancouver Transit Police.  
- A total of ten MBRs are being deployed to Blaine and Vancouver. 
- The City of Blaine is located in Whatcom County along the Canadian border so pilot participation will also include the North Whatcom Fire Agency which communicates cross-border. 
Vancouver Transit Police communicate with light rail, heavy rail (west coast express), bus, ferry, Canadian Pacific Railway Police, and Canadian National Railway Police. 
To date, three multi-band radio pilots have been completed, Blaine, WA, Vancouver Transit Police and Murray State University.  Findings from completed pilots were consolidated and a DRAFT report for each pilot is under review.  The National Capitol Region Pilot continues with several pilot scenarios being completed.  Plans are underway to expand the pilots to include agencies along the southwest border region.  No cross border US/Mexico pilots are planned.  OIC is coordinating with OEC to determine the feasibility of a joint pilot effort in the Nogales, AZ region.

3. Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program
Equipment from three new manufacturers (seven total) manufacturers completed the P25 Compliance Assessment Process.
Daniels
EF Johnson
Harris
Tait
Motorola
Kenwood
Raytheon
Summary Test Reports and Supplier’s Declarations of Compliance for products are available on the Responder Knowledge Base (  

4. Voice over Internet Protocol
From August 23-31, OIC conducted a multi-jurisdictional technology demonstration of the Bridging System Interface (BSI) Core Profile 1.1 with practitioners of the Public Safety Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Working Group
N.J. State Police Office of Emergency Management
N.J. Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue
City of Boise
ID Fire Department
City of Pittsboro, IN Fire Department
Used disparate bridging systems to conduct operational testing to
Identify successes and barriers in using the BSI profile specifications
Examine whether the profile improves interoperable communications
Findings will be included in a report distributed to the public safety community
VoIP Working Group is seeking participants for its Radio Site Interface Subgroup. Participants should have a solid technical perspective as well as represent radio or console manufacturers.
For further information, please contact,

5. Video Quality in Public Safety
The VQiPS Working Group, comprised of representatives from public safety, academia, and industry, published Volume I of the VQiPS User Guide
Introduces readers to various aspects of video quality
Provides instruction in identifying video needs based on those aspects
Posted on SAFECOM web site at:
DHS is currently reviewing Task-Based Tactical and Surveillance Video Quality Test Report (supports SAFECOM Statement of Requirements),
Public release expected September 2010
Describes laboratory studies that investigated the level of quality required for tactical, live and recorded surveillance public safety video application
For further information about the VQiPS Working Group please contact,